Free-Electron Lasers at the ELBE - Center for High-Power Radiation Sources at the HZDR in Dresden-Rossendorf

FELBE is an acronym for the free-electron laser (FEL) at the Electron Linear accelerator with high Brilliance and Low Emittance (ELBE) located at the Forschungszentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Germany. The heart of ELBE is a superconducting linear accelerator operating in cw mode with a pulse repetition rate of 13 MHz. The acceleration is performed in two superconducting units with 20 MV each. The average beam current is 1 mA. The electron beam is guided to several laboratories where secondary beams (particle and electromagnetic) are generated (→ details). Two free-electron lasers (U37-FEL and U100-FEL), produce coherent electromagnetic radiation in the mid and far infrared (4 - 250 µm). Pulse energies are in the few 100 nJ range with pulse duration of a few picoseconds. The typical operation mode offers 13 MHz micropulse repetition rate, in macropulses of a few 100 μs at up to 25 Hz or, alternatively, FEL operation in a continuous 13 MHz mode.

As a user facility FELBE is open for external users.

CALIPSOplus is the network of all major accelerator-based lightsources (synchrotrons and FELs) in Europe and the Middle East. The project which is coordinated by HZDR is funded under the European framework programme for Research and Innovation Horizon 2020 as "Integrating Activity" for a period of four years, starting from May 1st, 2017 to April 30th, 2021.

A major focus of CALIPSOplus is on the trans-national access programme which offers funding of experimental compaigns for outstanding users from countries outside the one hosting the particular facility.

This is complemented by a variety of raing programmes for young resreachers, new users, unexperienced users and for technical staff at the facilities. Close collaboration of the user offices, regular exchange with the user community represented by the European Synchrotron and FEL User Organisation ESUO, recruiting industry as a user and developing stratgies for long-term sustainability of activities and services are further goals.

Joint research activities focus on ultra-high precision metrology of X-ray mirrors and on remote data analysis tool. More information is available from the CALIPSOplus website.

FELBE is a member of FELs OF EUROPE, "a collaboration of all free electron laser (FEL) facilities in Europe, with the goal to meet the technological and scientific challenges of these novel and rapidly developing technologies and to provide a worldwide unique, pan-European research infrastructure that enables exploiting the full scientific potential of these unique accelerator based short-pulse lightsources." (see mission statement https://www.fels-of-europe.eu/about_us/about_us/ )